Folding chair.



No. 664,897. Patented Ian. I, [90L A. BUTT.

FOLDING CHAIR.

(Application filed Oct. 23, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 664,897. Patented Jan. I, 190i. A. non. FOLDING GHAiB.

(Appficatian filed Oct. 93, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Shut 2,

(No Model.)

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UNtTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT ROTT, OF FREIHEIT, GERMANY.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,897, dated January1, 1901.

Application filed October 23, 1899. Serial No. 734,569. (No model.)

To (all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT ROTT, master joiner, a subject of the King ofPrussia, German Emperor, residing at Freiheit, near Osterode, Germany,have invented new and useful Improvements in Three-Legged FoldingChairs, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved three-legged folding chairwhich is of utility where limited space necessitates the folding up orstoring away of articles of furniture when such articles are notrequired for immediate use.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in suchfolding chairs; and it has forits object to simplify and cheapen theconstruction and to render more efficient, durable,and serviceable inoperation this class of articles.

To these ends and to such others as the in vention may pertain the sameconsists in the peculiar combinations and in the novel constructions,arrangements, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafterdescribed, shown in the accompanying drawings, and set out in theappended claims.

My improved folding chair is rendered fit for use by turning forward oneleg, thereby rigidly supporting the chair without necessitating theemployment of special fixing means.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation ofmyimproved chair ready for use. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan of the chairas shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the chair when foldedup. Fig. i is a side elevation of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows the spiral springfor operating the levers.

The folding chair consists in the usual manner of the back, the seat,and a third movable leg attached to the back. The two side parts a b ofthe back serve at the same time for constituting two of the legs of thechair. These two side parts a b are connected together by means of fourcross-bars c (1 cf, of which the two top ones constitute the frame forthe back-rest. The back may be upholstered, caned, or fitted in anysuitable manner, or it may be fitted, as shown in the drawings, withvertical rails g. The cross-bar 6 serves for attaching the seat 2' bymeans of extensions 0 of the levers n.

hinges h. This cross-bar e, in combination with the cross-bar f, at thesame time serves as a support for the rotatable leg 70, said leg Itbeing pivoted in corresponding holes in the two cross-bars e f.

The lower side of the seat t' is fitted with the device for holding theleg is in operative position. On a ledge Z, transversely secured to thelower side of the seat 71, levers n are rotat-ably fitted aroundscrew-pi votsm. These levers n are shaped at their free extremities sothat extensions 0 are formed. On the ledge Z a plate 10, of metal, isfastened, extending beyond the inner edge of said ledge Z and affordingon the ledge a stop or rest for the two A further and essential purposeof this plate p will be pointed out later on. ;By means of spiralsprings or the like the two levers n will constantly show a tendency toreturn to their position of rest on the back of the plate 10.

The leg or support It, the rear part (1 of which is shaped so as toassume the form of an ordinary third leg of the chair, as indicated inFig. 3, is fitted at the front with an extension 0", a slots beingprovided in same a short distance from the top edge. (See Fig. 3.)

In unfolding the chair the part, q of the support or leg in is pulledout, (it is a matter of indifference from which side,) the seat beingraised thereby, as the extremity of the extension r travels along itsunder frame. On coming to bear against one of the levers p the pressureexerted in turning the support A; presses the lever 71 back, theinfluence of its spiral spring not being sufficient to counteract same,until the extremity of the lever is reached, when the extension 7' willpress against the recessed part at the extremity of the second lever n.The first lever 'n then returns to its original position, owing to theinfluence of its spring, whereby its extension 0, like the extension 0of the second lever n, bears against the extremity of the support 10,thus locking same in position. The slots in the support is then occupiedby the projecting part of the plate p, which locks the seat iin itsposition, so that it can neither be raised nor lowered. The tongueformed by the slot sis of reduced length, so as not to come in contactwith the levers it, but sim; ply to travel inside the ledge Z and withinsuch travel, so as to pass beneath the plate 19, projecting from theledge Z, for the purpose above indicated.

The two free extremities of the levers n may be connected by a suitablelength of chain 25 to prevent opening them out too far.

In folding the chair it is simply necessary to retract one or both ofthe levers n and to turn the support 70 in either direction, whereuponthe seat 7) will drop by gravity.

Having now described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding chair the combination of the back-frame havingcross-bars, a pair of legs constituting the vertical rails of theaforesaid back-frame, a third leg pivoted vertically in two of thecross-bars of the backframe, a seat hinged to the latter, aledge on theunder side of the seat, a plate secured to the aforesaid ledge, saidplate projecting inwardly beyond the ledge, a pair of spring-influencedlevers mounted on the ledge to insure the position of the hinged thirdleg, and an extension of the third leg fitted with a slot adapted to beengaged by the projecting portion of the aforesaid plate, substantiallyas described and shown and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with the back-frame of to be raised by the shorter endof the sup- 1,

port on turning the latter, a ledge transversely secured to the underside of the seat,

a pair of spring-influenced levers pivoted to the aforesaid ledge, aplate centrally attached thereto projecting slightlyinward, said platepreventing the levers from further turning inward when in alinement byforming an abutment for their free extremities, a slot in the shorterend of the pivoted third leg adapted to be engaged bytheinwardly-projecting portion of the plate on the transverse ledge atthe under side of the seat to prevent the seat from being raised orlowered, saidshorter end of the pivoted third leg adapted to be embracedby the free extremities of the springinfiuenced levers, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER.

